Toothbrush having removable bristle element



June 26, 1951 F. ARTALE 2,558,332

TOOTHBRUSH HAVING REMOVABLE BRISTLE ELEMENT Filed July 2l, 1947 y INVENTOR. FRANK AE1-A LE 2 P2M-'ml Patented June 26, 1951 `UINII'T ED :STATES PATENT OFFICE roornnosn HAVING `Rnuowlts VBRI'STUE ELEMENT `Frank Artale, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 1947, serial m5762307 sloiaims. (oms- 167) `Thisl yinvention relates to toothbrushes.

It is an object of the present invent-iontofpro`- vide an `especially formed toothbrush `with bristles on the toothbrush head arrangedso :as to be ofuciroular formation at the outer end fadextended throughoutv a greater' diameter' `than through a portion rearwardly" thereof whereltlie bristles are arranged with: less width whereby to provide `a larger area on thel'forw'ard endof the brush on whichthepasteoan `.be disposed.

It is another object ofthe presentzinvention to provide `a toothbrush with a 'removable brush portion which can vbe replaced byxanother `brush portion with .differently arranged bristles-'on it and to provide a novelnleans .for "xing .these brush` heads within the end of fthe toothbrush handle.

Other-objects Aof the present invention `'are to provide a toothbrush which is of simple ec'liistriic` tion; yinexpensive to manufacture and eflcieht in operation.

According to the invention, there is provided a toothbrush head which isformed with a circular formation at the very end which is `of wider di'- arneter thanthe width of .the head in therarof the circular portion. The bristles within the` cire cular portion may be, according to a modified form .of Vthe invention, of greater :length .than the bristles `inthe rear of thesaijpe `TheV bristles can extend from oppositesides l'of the brush, if desired, and the bristles `caribe longl 'on-the for Ward part and short in the rear thereof. Also, the bristles .can be placedon a removable :bristle retaining portion `and these portions "can be sl'rnl= larly arranged with bristles of diierent length. `In the end of the toothbriish'thereis airslot into `which `the 4bristle portion'oan be `extended and retained. Sidepo'rtions adapted to 1t"'the ciroular partof the bristle portion are 'connected by spring elements so that they can be Aexpanded to permit the inward insertion of `the bristle :portion which will automatically; when they fare released, surround and Yclamp the lbristle portion in place. The bristleportion is provided with a flange around its periphery adapted to fit Within a groove `in the slot in the end` of the brushy and these grooves being continued throughout the clamping parts of the brush; In the handle portion of the .brushA is a'hole into which coloring mattercan be pouredand retained. The different color will indicate the different ownership of the brush.

For further `comprehension of `the invention. and of the objects and advantages thereof,A reference will be had to the following description v 2 and `accompanying drawing, and to the appended claimsin 'which the various novel feature'sbofth'e invention `are .more partieularly` set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a inate Fig. 1 is a front `face elevational view. .of a toothbrush embodying 'certain of thevieature's of the 'present invention.

Fig- 2 is `a side elevational View ofthe brush shown Fig. vl.

Fig. 43 is across sectional view taken online 3--3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevational view of .a modified form ofbru'sh Whereinvboth short land long bristleshare used.

Fig. 5 is av 'front elevational view of thefb'rush shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged `cross sectional view taken on line '6e-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is ya partial side elevational View of a brush wherein the bristles extend from -miposite sides of the vhead end of the same.

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the 'brush shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged crossfse'otional View taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front elevationalview of atbrush with a detachable `head portion illustrating `in dotted lines how the clamp members are .hinged outwardly to receive the `bristle portion.

Fig. l1' is an enlarged plan viewV of vthe head end of the toothbrush handle showing the `slot adapted to receive the bristle portion, with the clamping elements i expanded or separated" from each other.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal cross sectionalview taken on line I2-|2 of Fig. ll.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the bristle portion.

Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively modied forms of bristle portions.

Fig. 16 is a transverse/cross sectional view taken on line l6 |6fof Fig. l1...

Fig. 17 is a perspective view looking upon` the clamping elements. of` thes'lotted retaining portion for the bristle elements.

Referring now particularlyA to Figs. l to 3, 2| represents a `brushhandle having a hole 22 extended in from the end thereof. Into this hole 22, there may be inserted coloring matter which will identify the particular brush being used. The brushiis made of molded plasticlof` the transparent type and the coloring matter within the hole 22 will appear therethrough. :On the for ward end of the.handle is a brush head'portion 23 having bristles 24 thereon. This head portion are of the same shape except that bristles 24 on t the round section are longer than the short bristles 24 on the narrow section of the brush head. Y

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, there is shown an arrangement similar to the brush of Fig.'4 except that the bristles extend from oppositesides of the head portion. The bristles 24 are located in the large round section on the forward end of the brush head.

Referring now particularly to Figs. to 17, there is shown a brush with a detachable head portion which can have different bristle arrange; ments thereon. This -brush has the usual handle 2l with the hole 22 extended in fromv the endv thereof -forrcontaining coloring matter and a narrow slot 3| for receiving a-brush element 32.y The brush element 32 has anarrow portion 43? and a wide round portion r34. The bristles- '24 can be short, as shown in Fig. 13, orshort and long and extending from only as shown in Fig. 15, or short and extending from opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 14. t

The brush element is provided with a ange 34 extending therearound adapted to t-a groove 35 in the slot whereby to retain the brush element against vertical displacement within the brush slot. The round section of the brush element is clamped in place by hinged' clamping pieces 36 adapted to be separated, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, to permit the insertion of the brush element and then swung inwardly to enclose the round section thereof. These clamping pieces are hinged by means of a spring strip 31 'embedded in the pieces 36 and in the integral portions of the head extending from the handle. These pieces have also grooves 35 for receiving the flange projection 34 of the brush element. The clamping pieces 36 are substantially of half circular shape and their ends will abut one another as they surround the round section of the head element.

While I have illustrated and described the ned in the appended claims.

"Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a toothbrush having a handle portion, a brush element having a narrow section and a circular section having a diameter greater than the width of said narrow section, the handle portionrbeing formed with a slot extended in from one end thereof. and having a width corresponding to the width of said narrow section and a length corresponding to the length of said narrow section and dividing the said end of the handle portion into spaced tines which extend along the opposed sides of said` narrow section, 'ineans on, the adjacent faces of said narrow section and said tineslimiting said brush element to`"1ongi-' tudinal sliding relative to the handle portion, and means on the free ends of said tines and engaging said circular section retaining said brush element against longitudinal sliding relative to the handle portion, said latter means comprising opposed semi-circular clamping pieces engaging diametrically opposite sides of said circular section, and resilient means hingedly connecting said clamping pieces to the ends of said tines and biasing said clamping pieces into facial contact with the diametrically opposite sides of said circular section.

2. In a toothbrush having a handle portion, a brush element having a narrow section and a circular section having a diameter greater than the width of said narrow section, the handle portion being formed with a slot extended in from one end thereof and having a width corresponding to the width of said narrow section and a length corresponding to the length of said narrow section and dividing the said end of the handle portion into spaced tines which extend along the opposed sides of said narrow section, means on the adjacent faces of said narrow section and said tines limiting said brush element to'longitudinal sliding relative to the handle portion, and means on the free ends of said tines and engaging said circular section Vretaining, said brush element against longitudinal sliding relative to the handle portion, said latter means comprising opposed semi-circular clamping pieces engaging diametrically opposite sides of said circular section, and resilient means hingedly connecting said clamp-V ing pieces to the ends of said tines and biasing said clamping pieces into facial contact with the diametrically opposite sides of said circular section, said resilient means comprising spring strips having their ends embedded in adjacent ends of said tines and said clamping pieces.

3. In a toothbrush having a handle portiona brush element having a narrow section and a circular section having a diameter greater than the width of said narrow section, the handle portion being formed with a slot extended in from one end thereof and having a width corresponding to the width of said narrow section and a length corresponding to the length of said narrow section and dividing the said end of the handle portion into spacedntines which extend along the opposed sides of said narrow section, means on the adjacent faces of said narrow section and said tines limiting said brush element to longitudinal sliding relative to the handle portion, and means on the free ends of said tines and engaging said' circular section retaining said brush elementl against longitudinal sliding relative to the handle portion, said latter means comprising opposed semi-circular clamping pieces engaging diamet- Y rically opposite sides of said circular section,and resilient means hingedly connecting said clamp-j' ing pieces to the ends of said tines and biasing said clamping pieces into facial Contact with the diametrically opposite sides of said circular section, and interengaged means on said clamping pieces and said circular section of the brush ele ment retaining said clamping pieces against movement in a plane at right angles to the plane of said brush element.

4. In a toothbrush having a handle portion, a brush velement having a narrow section and a circular section having a diameter greater than the width of said narrow section, the handle portion being formed with a slot extended in from one end thereof and having a width correspond-V ing to the width of said narrow section and a .5 length corresponding to the length of said narrow section and dividing the said end of the handle portion into spaced tines Which extend along the opposed sides of said narrow section, means on the adjacent faces of said narrow section and said tines limiting said brush element to 1ongitudinal sliding relative to the handle portion, and means on the free ends of said tines and engaging said circular section retaining said brush element against longitudinal sliding relative to the handle portion, said latter means comprising opposed semi-circular clamping pieces engaging diametrically opposite sides of said circular section, and `resilient means hingedly connecting said clamping pieces to the ends of said tines and biasing said clamping pieces into facial contact with the diametrically opposite sides of said circular section, and flanges projecting laterally from the sides of said circular section, said clamping pieces having complementary grooves in their 20 inner faces engaged by said flanges retaining said clamping pieces against movement in a plane at right angles to said brush element.

FRANK ARTALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 13.137,641 Brown Apr. 11, 1944 1,018,927 Sarrazin Feb. 27, 1912 1,057,450 Okamiya Apr. 1, 1913 1,592,292 Booty July 13, 1926 1,625,537 Gullickson Apr. 19, 1927 1,702,042 Doskow Feb, 12, 1929 1,744,271 Kingman 1 Jan. 21, 1930 1,875,475 McNally Sept. 6, 1932 1,939,001 Doll Dec. 12, 1933 2,123,407 Dullea July 12, 19318 2,154,352 Peterson Apr. 11, 1939 2,244,615 Garcin June 3, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,408 Great Britain of 1896 236,488 Great Britain July 9, 1925 439,450 Great Britain Dec. 6, 1935 

